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Photographic 

Sciences 

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CIHM/ICMH 

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conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

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par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'irnpression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmte  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'irnpression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboies  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — »>  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film^s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  ciichi,  il  est  film6  A  partir 
de  I'angle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

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5 

6 

HON. 


OB  XBIBIUi 


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CANADIAN   RECIPROCITY. 


REMARKS 


OF 


Y  ■tfs. 


HON.  N.  S.  TOWNSHEND.  OF  OHIO, 


IN  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES, 


FEBRUARY  24,  1883, 


BILL  BnCABUIBnro  BSdPBOCBL  TR&BB  WITB  m  BBIHIE  HORXH  iMEBJSBX 

PBOvncBii  ox  caoAXM  ooananxm. 


WASHINGTON: 
BUELL  &  BLANCHARD,  PRINTERS. 


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'1 


REMAEKS  OF  ME.  TOWNSHEND.  OF  OHIO, 


ON 


CANADIAN  RECIPROCITY. 


^«  r.< 


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t 


Mr.  TOWNSHEND  Baid : 

Mr.  Speaker  :  At  this  lata  dav  of  the  seMion, 
I  would  not  tax  the  patience  of  the  House  by 
any  further  discussion  of  this  question,  were  it 
not  that  no  gentleman  reprc:>enting  any  part  of 
the  valley  ol  the  St.  Lawrence— the  region  es- 
pecially interested  in  some  of  the  most  import- 
ant provisions  of  thia  bill— has  yet  been  heard 
opou  lue  subject. 

AGRICULTURAL  INTEREST. 

And  in  the  first  place  I  beg  to  oifer  a  remark 
or  two  for  the  purpose  of  quieting  the  fears  of 
some  gentlemen  here— opponents  of  the  meas- 
ure—who seem  to  imagine  that  reciprocal  free 
trade  with  Canada  is  likely  to  be  prejudicial 
to  the  agricultural  interest  of  the  country,  and 
especially  to  that  of  the  Northwest.  Perhaps 
I  may  venture  to  speak  for  this  interest.  I  am 
myself  a  farmer,  and  I  represent,  in  part,  one 
of  the  best  agricultural  regions  of  the  whole 
oountry. 

The  Canadas  annually  produce  some  fifteen 
millions  of  bushels  of  wheat,  not  more  than 
one  third  of  which  can  be  spared  for  exporta- 
tion. This  surplus,  it  is  supposed,  may  come 
into  competition  with  the  wheat  grown  in  Ohio, 
Indiana,  Illinois,  and  Michigan.  But  when  it 
is  recollected  that  the  price  of  wheat  in  those 
States,  and  also  in  Canada,  h  governed  by  the 
European,  and  particularly  the  English  mar- 
ket,  to  which  our  surplus  together  with  thatof 
Canada  is  sent,  it  is  easily  seen  that  it  cannot 
be  possible  for  Canadian  producers  to  under- 
sell us  in  our  own  market.  But  all  these  (ears 
are  utterly  groundless,  in  view  of  the  fact  that 
the  produotioa  of  wheat  in  the  Britiub  Ameri- 


can ProTineea  is  necemarily  limited  by  the 
rigors  of  the  climate,  a  part  of  Canada  only 
being  adapted  for  wheat  culture,  while  the 
amount  that  may  be  produced  in  our  North- 
western States  is  almost  illimitable.  VVhy,  sir, 
one  of  the  counties  of  the  Congressional  dis- 
trict in  which  1  reside,  the  county  of  Wayne, 
had,  last  year,  seventy  thou»iand  acres  of  wheat, 
the  crop  of  which  averaged  thirty  bushels  an 
acre,  or,  in  the  aggregate,  amounting  to  over 
two  millions  of  bushels.  In  Ohio  there  are 
eighty-five  counties,  each  one  of  wh'ch  could 
readily  produce  one  million  of  bushels  n  year, 
without  interfering  in  any  inconvenient  degree 
with  other  agricultural  products.  Under  these 
circumstances,  does  any  one  fear  the  competi- 
tion of  the  Canadas?    The  idea  is  absurd. 

All  that  the  agricultural  interest  of  the 
Northwest  demands,  is  the  removal  of  the  ob- 
stacles thrown  in  the  way  of  trade  by  a  high 
and  unequal  tariff,  and  to  secure  the  free  navi- 
gation  of  the  river  St.  Lawrence.  Only  permit 
us  to  sell  where  wo  can  sell  dearest,  and  to  buy 
where  we  can  buy  cheapest — permit  us  to  avail 
ourselves  of  any  market  we  can  find  for  our 
Vheat  and  pork,  beef,  cheese,  and  other  arti- 
cles— permit  us  to  buy  lumber,  fish,  and  what- 
ever else  we  need,  without  restrictions,  and  we 
ask  no  favoirs  of  this  Government  or  of  the  rest 
of  mankind.  We  have  no  conscious  weakness 
to  excite  our  fears  of  competition,  we  are  not 
contending  against  the  economy  and  laws  of 
nature,  and  therefore  we  ask  for  no  artificial 
protection.  This  point  settled,  I  come  now  to 
consider  briefly  the  bearings  of  reciprocity  on 
the  coal  trade. 


• 


COAL  INTEREST. 
It  ia  to  be  regretted  that  the  bill  reported  by 
the  committee  do«8  not  provide  for  the  free  ex- 

Eortation  and  importation  of  coal.  I  sincerely 
ope  it  will  be  amended  in  this  particular.  My 
anxiety  for  this  amendment  does  not  ariae  dim- 
ply from  the  fact  that  the  shippin;;  interest  of 
the  Lakes  dcsireei  the  profits  of  the  trade,  nor 
merely  from  my  conviction  that  it  will  directly 
promote  the  general  interests  of  the  country*; 
Dot  also  from  the  fact,  which  is  or  which  ought 
to  be  perfectly  understood,  that  without  this 
provision  for  free  trade  in  coal,  our  proposed 
reciprocity  will  not  be  accepted  by  tlie  Provin- 
cial Parliament.  To  obtain  a  market  for  this 
coal  is  the  principal  object  with  Nova  Scotia 
and  New  Brunswick,  and  the  only  considera- 
tion that  will  induce  them  to  concede  to  us  the 
benefits  of  their  coast  fisheries. 

At  present,  Pennsylvania  almost  monopolizes 
the  coal  trade  of  the  country.  That  State  sella 
some  five  millions  of  tons  annually,  at  a  co.st  to 
consumers  of  $20,000,000.  It  is  not,  therefore, 
surprising  that  the  coal  interest  there  should 
resittt  the  free  import-^  tion  of  coals  from  Nova 
Sergio,  where  they  are  found  in  great  abund- 
ance and  of  excellent  quality.  It  may,  however, 
be  seriously  doubted  whether  the  coal  interest 
ot  Pennsylvania  has  anything  to  fear  from  free 
trade  in  this  article ;  though  if  it  has,  it  is  just 
ae  certain  that  other  important  interests  of 
that  great  State  would  be  proportionately  pro- 
moted. 

The  coal  imported  from  Nova  Scotia  and  New 
Brunswick  is  highly  bituminous,  some  of  it  con- 
taining as  much  as  sixty  per  cent,  of  volatile 
matter.  Such  coal  as  this  can  never  come  into 
competition  with  the  anthracite  of  Pennsylva- 
nia. The  latter  will  always  be  preferred  for 
domestic  and  some  other  purposes ;  and  in  con- 
firmation of  this,  I  may  refer  to  the  fact  that 
the  British  Cunard  steamers,  which  stop  at 
Halifax,  do  not  and  cannot  use  the  Nova  SScotia 
coal,  but  obtain  the  coal  they  use  from  Penn- 
sylvania, though  at  a  much  higher  price.  It  is 
also  equally  notorious  that  all  the  anthracite 
in  Pennsylvania  would  not  make  gas  enough 
to  supply  the  city  of  Philadelphia  for  a  single 
evening;  nor  from  the  Cumberland  coal  can 
gas  be  made,  without  the  adpiixture  of  some 
more  bituminous  variety.  Free  trade  in  coal 
will  therefore  result  in  the  exportation  of  Penn- 
sylvania coals,  to  be  used  for  purposes  to  which 
they  are  best  adapted,  and  in  the  importation 
of  coals  from  the  Provinces),  to  be  used  for  the 
special  purposes  to  which  they  are  suited.  It 
is  also  true  that  an  increased  consumption  of 
anthracite  will,  to  some  extent,  take  place,  for 
it  is  known  that  some  factories  in  the  Ea»t  ure 
now  lying  idle,  because  they  cannot,  without 
|)ayiQg  a  high  duty,  obtain  a  certain  amount 


of  Piotou  coal  which  they  find  it  beneficial  to 
use  in  connection  with  that  from  Pennivylva- 
nia.  Such  is  the  ditfercnce  in  the  qnalitie.9  of 
the.se  coalii,  and  so  different  the  purposes  for 
which  each  is  especially  adapted,  that  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Nova  Scotia  can  scarcely  come  into 
direct  competition.  But  the  Liverpool  <^flal, 
which  more  closely  resembles  that  from  Nova 
Scotia,  will  suffer  more  by  this  competition,  and 
ta\}i*t  ultimately  be  driven  from  our  market. 

The  importance  of  the  Western  coal  trade 
can  scarcely  have  been  taken  into  considera* 
tion  by  thooe  representing  the  coal  interest 
here.  This  is  already  of  great  consequence,  but 
it  is  epeedily  destined  to  bo  immensely  in- 
creased. Our  Lake  trade  now  employs  about 
seventy-four  thousand  tons  of  steam  vessels, 
mostly  using  coal,  and  the  whole  of  the  Cana- 
das  are  entirely  destitute  of  the  article ;  so  that 
Toronto  and  other  growing  cities  will  be  com- 
pelled to  obtain  their  supplies  from  the  western 
part  of  Pennsylvania  and  from  Ohio.  The  de- 
mand in  this  direction  will  be  an  equivalent  for 
any  competition  or  diminution  of  demand  in 
the  Eastern  cities. 

Pennsylvania  is  also  largely  engaged  in  tb< 
manufacture  of  iron ;  this  is,  in  fact,  her  es 
pecial  manufacturing  interest.  The  iron  man 
ufacturera  are  now  compelled  to  compete  witl 
those  of  England  at  a  great  disadvantage,  not 
only  on  account  of  the  difference  in  the  price 
of  labor,  but  also  on  account  of  the  difference 
in  the  price  of  coal.  In  England,  iron  can  bl 
afforded  cheap,  mainly  because,  in  many  local- 
ities, the  iron  and  ooal,  and  a  clay  suitable  for 
fire-bricks,  and  of  which  furnaces  can  be  built, 
are  found  in  alternate  layers ;  it  therefore  costt 
nothing  to  bring  the  iron  and  coal  together. 
Should,  therefore,  the  introduction  ofcoalfrota 
the  British  Provinces  have  the  effect  to  reduce 
the  price  of  coals,  as  some  suppose,  it  will  in 
the  same  ratio  increase  the  profits  of  the  iron- 
masters. The  manufacturers  of  the  East  are 
also  equally  interested  with  the  iron  men  in 
obtaining  cheap  fuel. 

But  there  is  another  consideration  which,  of 
itself,  ought  to  be  conclusive  in  favor  of  fret 
trade  in  this  article.  Fuel  is  about  as  much  t. 
necessary  of  life  as  food ;  and  for  those  that  live 
in  the  great  Atlantic  cities,  cool  is  fast  be- 
coming the  only  fuel.  Now,  tho  question  is, 
shall  we,  by  legislation  preventing  competition, 
compel  the  millions  who  want  coal,  and  must 
have  it,  to  pay  an  extra  and  exorbitant  price, 
in  order  that  a  few  brokera.  owning  coal  stocks, 
may  realize  enormous  profits?  At  this  age  of 
the  world,  will  a  monopoly,  which  bears  with 
such  crushing  weight  on  the  working  classes, 
longer  be  tolerated  ?  I  think  not.  And  I  be. 
lieve  I  may  safely  leave  this  matter,  and  pro- 
ceed to  ^reak  of  the  lumber  interest. 


if 


> 


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Pent!  !»yl  va- 
in ali  ties  of 
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at  PennRyl- 
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from  Nova 
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coal  trade 
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And  I  be> 
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i 


Vi 


THE  LUMBER  TRADE. 

The  British  Provineen  have  almost  inezbaiist- 
Ible  mppliea  of  pine  lumber,  Thii*  is  greatly 
needed  for  building  purpoAes  in  most  of  the 
Western  cities,  and  through  the  prairie  cotin- 
try  of  the  West  immense  quantities  would  bo 
utted,  could  it  be  freely  imported.  It  is  needed 
also  in  the  Eastern  States,  by  those  of  our 
manufacturers  whose  wares  are  made  wholly 
or  in  part  of  this  material;  and  in  all  the 
Eastern  cities  it  is  as  absolutely  needed  as  in 
th«  VVest,  for  building  purposes — in  fact,  it  is 
there  a  necessary  of  life ;  house  and  home, 
which  cannot  be  built  without  lumber,  are 
just  as  necessary  as  food  and  fire. 

Maine  and  North  Carolina  have  pine  lumber 
for  exportation.  The  lumber  from  these  States, 
and  particularly  that  from  North  Carolina, 
finds  a  market  in  our  Atlantic  cities,  and  aho 
in  the  British  VVest  India  Island.^,  where  it  is 
received  without  any  discrimination  bning  made 
in  favor  of  Canadian  lumber.  This  West  India 
market  is  so  valuable,  that  North  Carolina 
makes  little  or  no  objection  to  the  free  admis- 
sion of  Canadian  lumber  into  those  sections  of 
the  Union  that  could  not.  from  their  geographi- 
cal position  and  the  want  of  water  communi- 
cation, be  supplied  from  that  State,  the  VVest 
India  market  being  an  equivalent  for  and  bet< 
tcr  than  that  of  the  Western  States.  But 
Maine,  from  which  a  large  share  of  the  best 
timber  is  already  cut,  wants  to  exclude  the 
Iuml>er  of  the  Canadas,  and  to  force  her  spruce 
and  inferior  pine  on  the  market  at  high  prices. 
It  is  asserted,  that  unless  competition  from  the 
Provinces  is  prevented,  and  the  absolute  mo- 
nopoly of  the  trade  be  secured  to  Maine,  her 
hardy  lumbermen  cannot  make  fair  wages,  be- 
cause, as  they  express  it,  "  stumpage  is  so  high." 
This  stumpage  is  the  price  paid  by  the  lumber 
men  to  the  landed  proprietors  for  the  privilege 
of  cutting  tbe  timber,  and  varies,  I  am  told,  ac- 
cording to  the  quality  and  location,  from  two 
dollars  up  to  eight  dollars  a  thousand  feet.  It 
is  the  monopoly  of  the  trade  excluding  foreign 
lumber  that  enables  the  Maine  landholders  to 
charge  so  much  for  stumpage.  Increase  the 
duty  on  imported  lumber,  and  stumpage  will 
rise  still  higher ;  reduce  the  duties,  and  then 
stumpage  will  be  lower.  Prices  regulate  stump- 
age, and  the  lumbermen  will  not  be  afFected, 
whether  stumpage  be  high  or  low.  The  hardy 
lumbermen,  over  whom  tears  are  almost  shed, 
are  not  benefited  in  tbe  least,  but  rather  in- 
jured, by  those  high  duties :  and  all  this  hum- 
bug of  protection  is  not  designed  for  their  ben- 
efit, but  for  the  benefit  of  the  wealthy  few. 

The  Provinces  are  ready  to  concede  to  the 
United  States  the  free  navigation  of  the  St. 
John's ;  but  with  this  bonus  Maine  is  not  satia- 
liod.    She  demands,  in  addition,  not  only  the 


West  India  market,  which  is  alr<>adv  granted, 
but  als')  that  all  the  ports  of  the  UiitHh  it<lands 
shall  bo  open  to  her  lumber.  Of  cource,  we 
do  not  object  to  the  opening  of  the  ports  of 
Great  Britain,  Wo  do  not  in  the  least  objcot 
to  Maine  getting  a  good  bargain.  On  the 
contrary,  wo  would  be  glad  to  nee  it ;  but  wo 
protest  against  loading  down  this  bill  with 
provisions  which  arc  probably  designed,  and 
certainly  calculated,  to  defeat  the  whole  meas- 
ure, by  making  it  impossible  fur  the  Provinces 
to  agree.  Shall  the  St.  Lawrence  remain 
closed  to  our  commerce,  and  the  interests  of 
the  whole  North  bo  sacrificed  *  Shall  tho 
whole  country  bo  taxed,  and  it^  progress  ar- 
rested, for  the  sake  of  this  monopoly,  when  tbe 
whole  value  of  tho  entire  lumber  trade  of 
Maine  bears  such  an  insignificant  proportion 
to  the  interests  to  be  promoted  by  a  liberal  re- 
ciprocity? Assuredly  not.  And  now  a  word 
or  two  in  reference  to  manufactures, 

MANUFACTURING  INTEUEsT. 
I  am  happy  to  see  that  but  littla  opposition 
to  this  measure  comes  from  the  representatives 
of  tho  manufacturing  interest.  The  manufao- 
turcs  of  Canada  are  not  in  a  condiiaoa  to  com- 
pete with  ours,  and  of  course  ours  do  not  need 
to  be  protected  a.-rainst  them.  On  the  other 
hand,  many  of  .re  wares  will  find  in  Canad.% 
an  excellent  m-  A'i  and  Eastern  manufac- 
turers are,  some  i. "  them,  already  bccumini; 
convinced  that  the  Canadian  market  is  worth 
more  to  them  than  any  protective  duty  they 
will  be  likely  to  obtain.  Our  manufacturers 
will  also  be  benefited  by  the  free  introduction 
of  various  kinds  of  raw  material.  To  cheapen 
these  is  to  increase  tbe  manufacturer's  prohts; 
or,  what  is  the  same  thing,  it  cn:ibies  him  to 
enter  into  competition  more  suci-cssfully  with 
the  foreign  article.  And,  further,  by  establishing 
an  extensive  free  list  of  Canadian  unmanufac- 
tured articles,  the  more  tariff  must  be  raised 
from  those  articles  which  come  more  into  com- 
petition with  our  own.  The  miuiul'acturing 
interest,  in  fact,  loses  nothing  by  reciprocity 
with  Canada,  but  gains  much.  H  iving  said 
this  much  in  reply  to  some  of  the  oljections  to 
this  measure,  let  us  now  consider  eumo  of  its 
advantages. 

TRADE  WITH  CANADA. 

Some  idea  of  the  beneficial  character  of  ow 
Canadian  trade,  and  tbe  still  greater  benefits 
to  be  derived  from  a  liberal  reciprocity,  may 
be  obtained  by  a  view  of  the  extoni  to  which 
thi.s  trade  has  already  reached,  in  spite  of  all 
obstacles  and  restrictions.  I  will  no:  consume 
tbe  time  of  the  House  by  reading  tabular  state- 
nieut.-!,  but  content  myself  with  givii.g  amounts 
in  round  numbers,  securing,  however,  substan- 
tial accuracy.    Our  registered  expi  rts  to  the 


i%\ 


* »  .» 


I 


nritish  North  Ameriora  Provinces  for  tbo  last 
year  exceed  $12  000,000,  and  the  registered 
imports  from  that  quarter  exceed  $6,000,000. 
But  iniisnuicb  M  it  is  impossible  to  watch 
thoroughly  by  GoveruiaontoUicials  a  border  of 
two  thouaiind  mileH  in  extcut,  it  in  certain  that 
the  actual  trade  io  much  greater.  Wo  rauy 
Hafoly  set  down  tho  ag^re^ate  at  $20,000,000, 
This  trade  han  uU  sprung  up  within  a  few 
years.  It  is  now  rapidly  increasing,  and  would 
oontinuo  to  increaBe  beyond  nny  previous  ratio, 
were  it  not  for  the  obstacles  iutorpoeed  by  un- 
wise legislation.  The  averaj^u  rate  of  duties 
levied  by  Canada  on  goods  imported  from  the 
United  iStatos  ih  tweivo  and  a  half  per  cent., 
while  the  average  of  duties  levied  by  the  Uni> 
ted  States  on  ^oods  imported  from  t)ie  Canadaa 
IB  twenty-thrco  jier  cent.  This  inequality  of 
duties  accounts  in  part  for  the  diifcrcnce  be- 
tween our  exports  and  imports,  which  in  a 
great  measure  destroys  the  mutual  advantage 
of  the  trade.  But  the  worst  effect  of  such  high 
duties  ia  to  stop  trade  in  many  articles  alto- 
gether. Our  merchants  cannot  now  import 
an  article,  however  much  it  may  be  needed, 
unless  it  will  pay  a  sufficient  profit  over  and 
above  the  twenty-three  per  cent. ;  nor  can  they 
carry  there  tho  productions  of  our  skill  and 
industry,  unless  they  can  make  on  them  a  living 
profit  over  and  above  the  tweivo  per  cent,  duty 
charged  in  Canada :  and  consequently  the  ex- 
change of  many  articles  is  entirely  prevented, 
which  else  might  be  exchanged  with  great 
mutual  benefit.  These  restrictions  on  our  trade 
are  of  course  highly  injurious  to  our  shipping 
interest.  Freights  have  to  be  increased,  as  the 
certainty  of  return  cargoes  is  lessened.  But 
let  trade  be  free,  and  the  number  of  articles 
of  exchange  increased,  and  freights  might  be 
greatly  reduced,  and  yet  larger  profits  be 
made. 

And  when  these  restrictions  are  removed, 
other  sections  of  the  Union  will  share  witi.  tho 
Lake  country  in  the  benefits  of  the  Canadian 
trade.  Kentucky  will  find  a  new  market  for 
her  tobacco  and  hemp.  Louisiana  secures  a 
market  for  her  raw  sugar.  South  Carolina 
gains  admission  for  her  rice;  and  in  addition 
to  these  products  from  opposite  sides  of  the 
Union,  our  manufacturing  States  will  find  a 
new  and  profitable  market  for  their  wares. 

FREE  NAVIGATION  OF  THE  ST.  LAWRENCE, 

But  the  principal  obstacle  in  the  way  of  the 
commerce  of  the  lakes  will  only  be  removed 
when  Great  Britain  shall  be  induced  to  con- 
cede to  us  the  free  navigation  of  tho  river  St. 
Lawrence.  What  are  these  great  lakes  but 
expansions  of  this  magnificent  river?  It  is 
their  natural  outlet  to  the  ocean,  and  not  less 
k  it  the  natural  highway  for  ouroommotoe 


with  the  world.  But  because  this  river  has 
been  closed  ogaioHt  us,  other  and  artificial 
channels  of  communication  between  tho  lukta 
and  the  reaboard  have  been  conNtructed  at 
enormous  exp'^nse,  wiiich  has  been  justifitd  by 
the  inciUculal)Jo  benefit  tome  of  tlit^se,  as  the 
Erie  caual,  have  been  to  the  country  and  to 
the  WcLit.  But  benides  the  cspensivencss  of 
using  these  artitxial  channels— and  that  is  no 
tritlo,  for  tho  Erie  canal  levied  SiS.OOO.OOO  last 
year  io  tolls  on  produce  going  Kust  and  on 
merchandise  going  West— there  is  another  and 
still  more  serious  objection:  they  are  inade- 
quate to  our  wants;  not  uU  the  railroads  and 
canals  that  have  been  constructed  since  the 
Erie  canal,  are  able  yet  to  meet  the  demands 
of  our  commerce. 

Tho  trade  of  tho  great  lakes  in  1851  wo* 
832G  000,000,  or  more  by  $40,000,000  than  the 
exports  of  the  whole  country.  This  trade  cm- 
ploys  some  two  hundred  and  fifteen  thousand 
tons  of  shipping,  of  which  about  two-thirds  are 
in  sailing  ve»^!<els,  and  about  one-third  is  pro- 
pelled by  steam.  The  sura  invested  in  this 
shipping  is  over  $8,000,000,  and  fo  long  as  we 
are  not  permitted  to  u.se  the  river  St.  Lawrence, 
this  88,000,000  is  compelled  to  He  idle  and  un- 
productive for  about  one-third  of  the  year, 
while  tho  interest  on  the  capital  thus  investca 
is  running  up  to  $250,000.  If  tho  navigation 
of  the  St.  Lawrence  were  secured  to  us,  a  large 
proportion  of  this  shipping  would  load  up  in 
the  fall  with  the  produce  of  tho  West,  and  jun 
down  the  St.  Lawrence  end  out  to  sea  before 
tho  ice  had  closed  the  river.  During  the  win- 
ter, voyages  would  be  made  to  England,  to  tho 
Mediterranean,  to  tho  West  Indies,  or  to  South 
America.  In  the  spring  they  would  return, 
bringing  cargoes  from  the  countries  they  had 
visited,  or  they  would  bring  fish  from  the  Prov- 
inces, pass  up  the  river  again,  and  be  on  tho 
lakes  in  time  for  the  summer  trade. 

A  gentleman  near  me  remarks  *'that  tho 
lake  craft  dare  not  venture  upon  a  navigation 
eo  dangerous  as  that  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Law- 
rence." To  that  I  reply,  that  the  men  who 
dare  to  sail  on  Lake  Erie,  where  there  is  nei- 
ther depth  of  water  nor  sea-room,  will  not  be 
afraid  of  that  gulf,  nor  of  any  othef  place 
where  money  is  to  be  made.  A  lew  years  since, 
a  vested  started  from  Cleveland,  loaded  with 
Western  produce,  and  carrying  some  of  my 
neighbors  as  passengers;  she  went  down  the 
St.  Lawrence,  by  special  permission,  then  out 
to  sea,  and  round  by  Cape  Horn  to  San  Fran- 
cifeco,  in  safety—- thus  practically  solving  this 
problem ;  and  it  was  not  inappropriate,  there- 
fore, that  she  was  named  the  Eureka.  Make 
the  river  free  to  us,  and  thousands  of  vesseL* 
will  follow  in  the  same  course. 

The  people  living  in  the  valley  of  the  St. 


i»  riter  has 
(1  artificial 
'D  tho  lukts 
Ntructrd  at 
juHtified  by 
:ii»8o,  aa  the 
in  try  udiJ  to 
.siveness  of 

that  is  no 
)0(IOOO  last 
ant  nod  00 
notfacr  and 
are  inade- 
Iroads  and 

Kinc«  the 
10  demands 

n  1851  was 
00  than  tho 
is  trade  rm- 
!>n  thousand 
n-thirdd  are 
lird  ia  pro- 
!ted  in  this 
loD^  as  ire 
.  Lawrence, 
idle  and  un- 
f  the  year, 
ms  invcKtcd 
navigation 
>  lit),  a  hirge 
load  up  in 
28t,  and  «un 
)  sea  bef'oro 
ig  the  win- 
land,  to  tho 
or  to  South 
uld  return, 
!s  they  had 
n  the  Prov- 
be  00  tho 

'*that  tho 
navigation 
if  St.  Law. 
:  men  who 
ere  ia  nel- 
kvill  not  be 
thei?  place 
pears  since, 
•aded  with 
ime  of  my 

down  the 
,  then  out 
San  Fran« 
)lving  thill 
ate,  there- 
a.    Make 

of  Tes£old 

)f  the  St. 


Lawrence  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  OoTcm* 
in«nt  of  the  United  Stated  ought  to  make  an 
effort  in  reference  to  thin  river,  as  decided  as 
that  which  wan  so  Buccensfully  and  properly 
made  in  1803.  to  secure  tho  freedom  of  tho 
MisHissippi.  The  St,  Lawrence  is  to  the  North 
and  West  what  the  Mississippi  is  to  the  West 
and  South.  The  valley  of  the  St.  Lawrence  is 
not  less  important  to  the  country  than  tho  val- 
ley of  the  MissiHsippi.  It  contams  half  a  mil- 
lion of  Sfjuarc  niilec,  embracing,  on  our  side  of 
the  line,  western  Vermont,  northern  and  west- 
ern New  York,  northwestern  Fennsylvania,  the 
northern  portions  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illi- 
nois, tho  whole  of  Mxhigun,  and  part  of  Wis- 
consin and  Minnesota.  It  already  has  a  pop- 
ulation exceeding  four  millions;  and  it  is  not 
unworthy  of  note,  in  estimating  its  future,  that 
it  lies  within  those  latitude*!  where  the  densest 
tK)pulatt()n  of  the  Old  World  is  to  be  found. 
VVith  tho  exception  of  tho  agricultural,  the 
most,  important  resources  of  this  great  valley 
are  almost  entirely  undeveloped.  Scarcely 
anything  has  yet  been  done  to  open  to  the 
world  the  immense  mineral  resources  of  the 
Lake  Superior  region.  Aro'md  that  vast  io- 
land  sea,  the  whole  country  almost  f^eems  to  be 
but  a  succession  of  rich  ore  beds ;  copper,  iron, 
and  lead,  are  found  there  in  greater  abundance 
than  elsewhere  in  the  world.  When  tho  ship 
Canal  around  the  Falls  of  the  St.  Mary's  river, 
now  about  being  commenced,  ehall  have  been 
completed,  tho  whole  mineral  wealth  of  this 
region  will  be  made  available.  Millions  of  tons 
of  coal  from  Ohio  and  from  Pennsylvania  will 
be  carried  thither,  and  copper  and  iron  brought 
back  in  return.  But  besides  the  agricultural 
and  mineral  resources  of  the  St.  Lawrence  val- 
ley, it  is  possessed  of  unequalled  hydraulic 
power,  which  is  to  be  applied,  and  at  no  dis- 
tant day,  to  manufacturing  purposes,  To  say 
nothing  of  the  various  rapids  between  the  head 
waters  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  its  mouth, 
there  is  Niagara,  where  alone  seems  to  be  power 
enough  to  turn  all  the  wheels  in  the  world. 
Hitherto^  this  prodigious  accumulation  of  power 
has  run  to  waste.  This  cannot  be  suffered 
longer.  The  people  who  tame  the  lightning, 
and  compel  it  to  run  on  errands,  will  soon  put 
bands  on  this  old  giant,  and  compel  him  to 
grind  in  tho  prison-house.  There  is  therefore 
in  nature  nothing  wanting  to  make  this  valley 
the  great  manufacturing  region  of  the  country, 
but  the  removal  of  those  commercial  restric- 
tions which  alone  prevent  the  development  of 
its  immense  resources. 

COAST  FISHERIES,  ETC. 
But  we  have  still  another  inducement  to 
adopt  a  liberal  measure  of  reciprocity,  inas- 
much as  on  this  is  likely  to  depend  a  eatiefac- 
toiy  adjostmeat  of  tha  difficultiM  growiog  out 


of  the  coast  fisheries.  By  an  existing  conven- 
tion, as  wo  all  understand,  our  vessels  are  not 
permitted  to  fish  within  a  marine  leagtio  of  the 
shores  of  tho  British  I'rovinees,  nor  have  they 
tho  privilege  of  drying  and  packing  on  shore. 
By  tho  first  of  these  prohibitions  they  are  ex- 
cluded from  the  beat  fishing  grounds';  by  the 
second,  they  are  prevented  from  securing  prop- 
erly what  they  da  take.  From  both  those  re- 
strictions they  would  gladly  ejjcape,  and  it  is 
not  surprising  that  both  are  often  disregarded : 
and  hence  Great  Britain  has  to  s^nd  ships  of 
war  to  secure  to  tho  fishermen  of  the  Provmoen 
tho  enjoyment  of  their  monopoly.  Our  vessels 
are  often  seized,  and  much  irritation  and  somo 
danger  grows  out  of  it.  If  wo  can  offer  to  the 
British  Provinces  a  liberal  scheme  of  reciprocal 
free  trade,  it  is  understood  they  will  surrender 
all  exclusive  right  to  take  lish  upon  their  coasts, 
and  our  fishermen  will  have  free  acccfij  to  the 
best  iishing  grounds  in  tho  world.  Should  this 
anangnment  he  made,  every  family  in  the 
Union  may  be  benetited,  because  fish  may  then 
be  obtained  at  lower  rates  and  of  bettor  quali- 
ty. In  its  national  bearings,  this  free  access  to 
the  Provincial  fishing  grounds  is  universallj- 
conceded  to  be  of  vast  importance.  TIio  fishing 
trade  thus  opened  will  give  employment  to  tens 
of  thousands  of  men  and  boys,  and  so  become 
the  great  nursery  for  seamen,  from  which  our 
naval  and  mercimtile  marine  may  always  bo 
supplied.  The  importance  of  this  consideration 
cannot  easily  be  over-estimated. 

Wo  come,  then,  to  the  conclusion  that  this 
measure  of  reciprocal  free  trade  with  Canada 
will  not  injure  ony  section  of  this  Union,  nor 
scarcely  any  of  its  particular  interests,  even 
temporarily,  while  it  is  of  vital  importance  to  a 
large  portion  of  the  country,  and  will,  by  it» 
direct  effects,  or  by  the  collateral  advantages 
secured  in  connection  with  it,  be  highly  bene- 
ficial to  the  whole.  So  far  as  this  measure 
goes,  it  is  a  step  in  the  right  direction ;  it 
knocks  off  some  of  the  fetters  with  which  com- 
merce has  too  long  been  bound.  I  believe  that 
"sound  policy  requires  a  system  of  free  trade 
with  all  nations  that  will  trade  free  with  the 
United  States."  We  think  this  especially  true 
in  reference  to  these  neighboring  Provinces, 
settled,  as  they  are  to  a  great  extent,  by  a 
people  having  the  same  origin,  language,  and 
pursuits— being,  in  fact,  in  many  instances,  our 
relatives  or  friends,  and  often  separated  from 
us  merely  by  an  imaginary  line.  It  is  for  the 
interest  of  these  neighbors  to  trade  and  make 
exchanges,  and  they  will  do  it.  Then  why  not 
openly  permit  what  you  cannot  and  ought  not 
to  prevent  ? 

1  know  that  some  of  the  friends  of  this  meas- 
ure have  doubts  of  its  success  at  the  present 
leuioD.    Wo  ar»  now  oear  ita  close,  aad  per* 


? 


i-  vV.«>' 


hapH  attention  ban  not  been  suffiuicntly  turned 
to  this  Niitiject.  r.OHt  theno  ibiirs  should  prove 
to  bo  well  founded,  which  however  I  urn  not 
wiUiiig  to  believe,  I  take  thiu  occaHion  to  Hay 
that  thin  bonelioial  measure  can  certainly  be 
Hoourod,  if  those  interested  in  the  commerce  of 
the  valley  of  the  St.  Lawrence  will  bestir  them- 
solves.  The  subject  is  but  imperfectly  under- 
stood, oven  by  those  most  immediately  interest- 
ed. The  press  must  do  its  work,  and  the  pub- 
lic mind  must  bo  informed  and  aroused.  Let 
the  Bepresentutivos  to  Congress  from  this  no- 
ble valley  come  thorouehly  posted  up  on  this 
question,  and  prepared  ot  the  outset  to  insist 
tnat  the  most  efibcient  man  from  the  whole 
Lake  region  be  placed  on  the  Committee  on 
Commerce.  Finally,  let  them  act  in  concert, 
and  -.vhaluvcr  is  not  obtained  at  this  session 
will  be  secured  at  the  next. 

Before  taking  my  seat,  Mr.  Speaker,  I  would 
move  an  amendment  to  the  bill,  by  inserting 
the  word  "  coal "  among  the  articles  enumera* 
ted  in  the  lirst  section.  I  desire  also  to  move 
an  amendment  in  reference  to  lumber,  but,  as 
there  is  now  pending  a  motion  to  commit,  those 
amendments  I  know  would  sot  be  in  order.  I 
hope  to  have  an  opportunity  to  propose  them 
at  the  proper  time.  There  ia,  howesttf  anotlitf 


chanf^e  which  I  tety  murh  desire ;  and  aa  I 
cannot  move  it  as  an  amendment,  I  ask  that 
by  general  consent  it  may  be  made  as  a  cor« 
rection.  The  bill  provides  for  the  free  exchange 
of  undricd  fruit,  while  dried  fruit  is  not  em- 
braced  witliin  its  provisions.  The  south  sboro 
of  Lake  Erie  is  a  beautiful  fruit  region  ;  our 
peaches  are  equal  to  those  of  New  Jersej,  and 
our  apples  I  think  the  best  in  the  country. 
These  apples  in  the  undried  state  are  barreled 
up  for  exportation,  and  this  trade  is  of  soma 
consequence  to  us ;  but  our  trade  in  dried  ap> 
pies  and  peaches  is,  I  believe,  much  more  im* 
portant,  and  restrictions  on  it  would  operate 
severely  on  the  fairest  portion  of  our  constita* 
ents.  oir,  the  pretty  daughters  of  our  Weetem 
farmers  have  a  oommendablo  way  of  making 
their  pin-money  by  drying  this  fruit.  I  trust, 
therefore,  that  no  gentleman  will  think  M 
raising  an  objection  to  a  correction,  so  that  the 
bill,  instead  of  "undricd  fruits/'  may  read 
"  fruits  dried  and  undried." 

The  SPEAKER.  No  objeoUon  is  made.  The 
Clerk  will  make  the  correction. 

Mr.  TOWNSHEND.  Then  I  conclude^  £t. 
by  expressing  the  hope,  that  when  the  bill 
comes  up  for  final  aokion,  it  will  first  be  amend- 
ed,  and  then  pasaed. 


irt: 


t'   V 


.A 


I 


h  Amitt;  and  m  I 
indment,  I  Mk  that 
f  bo  mado  m  •  cor* 
)r  tho  freo  cxohange 
od  fruit  iH  not  em- 
).  Tho  south  flbore 
1  fruit  region ;  our 
of  New  Jcnoj,  and 
98t  in  the  country. 
1  state  are  barreled 
is  trado  is  of  aome 
trade  in  dried  ftp- 
fo,  much  more  im* 
n  it  would  operate 
ion  of  our  conetita- 
tors  of  our  Weetem 
)Io  way  of  making 
this  fruit.  I  trustt 
lun  will  think  M 
rrection,  so  that  the 
fruits,"  may  road 

ictionismade.  The 

lion. 

iien  I  ooDoIudfl^  air. 

^at  when  the  bill 

will  fint  be  amend* 


